While “green-eyed lizard” is a general term, it often refers to specific species. Many lizards display green or greenish eye coloration, which results from pigments and the structural properties of the iris. This article focuses on the most common interpretation of this term, helping identify the species people typically envision.
Understanding the Green Anole
The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) is frequently the species people envision when referring to a “green-eyed lizard,” particularly in North America. This lizard is well-known for its vibrant green body coloration, which can shift to shades of brown or gray. The color change is influenced by factors such as temperature, mood, and activity levels, rather than solely for camouflage.
Green Anoles are small to medium-sized lizards, typically 5 to 8 inches (12 to 20 cm) long, with slender tails accounting for over half their length. Males are generally larger. Their pointed heads feature ridges between the eyes and nostrils. A distinguishing feature is their bright green eyes, which can move independently, allowing them to survey their surroundings effectively. A thin turquoise border may also be present around their eyes.
Anole Habitat and Diet
Green Anoles are primarily arboreal, spending most of their time in trees and shrubs. They are commonly found in the southeastern United States, from southern Virginia to the Florida Keys and west to central Texas and Oklahoma. These lizards inhabit humid environments like forests, swamps, and wooded beaches, and are also observed in urban and suburban settings such as gardens, parks, and on fences, often basking in sunny spots.
Their diet primarily consists of small insects and other invertebrates. As insectivores, they consume a variety of prey, often attempting to eat anything smaller than their heads. Common food sources include spiders, flies, crickets, small beetles, moths, butterflies, small slugs, worms, and ants. Green Anoles typically notice only moving prey and obtain most of their water by licking dew droplets from plants.
Anole Behavior and Lifecycle
Green Anoles are diurnal, active during the day. Males are territorial, asserting dominance through visual displays like head-bobbing and extending their dewlap, a brightly colored throat fan. This dewlap, typically pink or reddish in males, also attracts females during the breeding season; females have a smaller, less prominent dewlap.
Their excellent climbing abilities are due to adhesive toe pads, allowing them to grip various surfaces, including vertical walls, trees, and fences. They can also detach their tails as a defense mechanism to distract predators. The breeding season typically runs from April through August, with females laying single eggs, usually one every two weeks, in moist soil, leaf litter, or rotten wood, totaling 6 to 18 eggs per season. Eggs hatch in five to seven weeks, producing miniature adults that receive no parental care. In the wild, Green Anoles generally live for about 2 to 8 years.
Other Lizards with Notable Green Eyes
While the Green Anole is a common example, other lizard species also exhibit noticeable green eyes. Certain chameleons, such as Jackson’s Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii), are known for their vibrant green coloration and prominent eyes. Native to East Africa, these chameleons are recognized by the three horns on males and have distinctive eyes capable of independent movement. Some European green lizards also display green eye coloration. However, these species are generally less frequently encountered by the average person compared to the widespread Green Anole.